Saturday, May 28, 2016

Urban Aboriginal ArtCloths[1]ArtCloth

Marie-Therese Wisniowski

IntroductionExperts estimate the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders that existed at the time of the start of the Anglo-Saxon colony in Australia in 1788 numbered 700,000. It fell to its low of around 93,000 people in 1900, a decrease by almost 87%. It will take until 2021 for population figures to recover to 1788 level if the current annual growth rate of 2.2% remains stable.

At present, 3% of Australia’s population identify themselves as Aboriginal. However, there are a large number of people who don’t answer the Indigenous question in the Census. It has been estimated there are approximately 1.1 million people whose Indigenous status we don’t know.

Contrary to what many people think the majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in Australia’s Eastern States and not in the remote desert regions of the continent. Furthermore, more than 66% of Aboriginal people live in NSW, Queensland and Victoria while Western Australia and the Northern Territory contribute only 24% of the Aboriginal population. Queensland is expected to overtake NSW for the title of most Aboriginal residents in the not-too-distant future. The population is the lowest in South Australia (5.6%) and Tasmania (3.6%). The Australian Capital Territory is home to only 0.9% of Australia’s Aboriginal people. The Northern Territory has the largest proportion of its population who are Aboriginal (30%), compared with 4.7% or less for all other states and the Australian Capital Territory.

Aboriginal population in Australia. About 60% of Australia’s Aboriginal people live in New South Wales or Queensland. The figures are almost stable since 2001.
Courtesy of "Creative Spirits".

In 2006 the majority (75%) of Aboriginal people lived in cities and non-remote areas. 32% lived in major cities, 21% in inner regional areas and 22% in outer regional areas. Only a quarter lived in remote (9%) and very remote (15%) areas.

90% of Aboriginal people live in areas covering 25% of Australia, while 90% of non-Aboriginal people live in the most densely populated 2.6% of the continent. Compare this to who owns how much of the land!

Aboriginal people live in cities, not in the outback. It is a common myth that the average Aboriginal Australian lives in a remote community. Only a quarter do so.
Courtesy of "Creative Spirits".

National Sorry Day is an Australia-wide observance held on May 26 each year. This day gives people the chance to come together and share the steps towards healing for the Stolen Generations, their families and communities. Stolen generations refer to Indigenous Australians who were forcibly removed from their families and communities. This post underlines our support for National Sorry Day and it does so by showcasing the artistic talent of our indigenous peoples.

The following images are ArtCloth created by urban Australian Aboriginals.

Urban Aboriginal ArtClothsThe population of Australia was estimated to be 23,239,022 as of 6th November 2013. Australia is the 52nd most populous country in the world. Its population is concentrated mainly in urban areas so its not surprising that that is also reflected in the location of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Below is a small collection of urban aboriginal ArtCloth work, the images of which have been procured from reference [1].

Artist and Title of Work: Marlene Young – “Brabralung Dreaming” (1995).
Technique: Painted on Silk.
Size: 295.5 x 116.0 cm.
Courtesy of National Gallery of Victoria.

In 2019 the Newcastle Printmakers Workshop in Newcastle, NSW, Australia will celebrate 40 years ! 40 current and past NPW printmakers have been selected to celebrate this 40 year milestone anniversary. The launch exhibition will be held at Art Systems Wickham, Newcastle, 8-17 November 2019. Marie-Therese is one of the participating printmakers contributing to this historical event.Click on the logo image to get further updates about the 40/40 exhibition concept, program and events.

Published in Studio La Primitive Arts Zine

Marie-Therese was invited by the editor of Studio La Primitive Arts Zine, Robyn Werkhoven, to be a 'Feature Artist' in the Arts Zine which features articles and interviews with national and international visual artists, poets and writers and glimpses into their world of art and their creative processes. The article, which features Marie-Therese’s art practice and career is titled, ' A Mapping of Anthropogenic Change' has been published in the May 2018 Issue 25 of the Studio La Primitive Arts Zine (the article appears on page 86). Click on the Image to get to the article.

2018 CrossXpollinatioN Exhibition - Journey's

Marie-Therese was a 'Feature Artist' at the '2018 CrossXpollinatioN' exhibition which was themed 'Journey's'. Her ArtCloth Installation 'Timelines: An Environmental Journey' was exhibited at the Colac Otway Performing Arts & Cultural Centre, Colac, Victoria from the 7th - 29th July 2018. The installation featured works employing her signature MultiSperse Dye Sublimation (MSDS) technique on synthetic fibres.Click on the image to see her installation.

About Me

I work full time as a studio artist, researcher, author, curator, speaker and tutor. I am also the Director of Art Quill Studio, The Education Division of Art Quill & Co. Pty. Ltd. at Arcadia Vale, NSW, Australia. I teach as a casual lecturer at The University of Newcastle (Australia) and I am the former co-editor of Textile Fibre Forum art magazine.

Employing my signature techniques I specialize in the area of ArtCloth, artist printmaker books and limited edition prints.

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My Most Visited Posts"When Rainforests Ruled" - ArtCloth Exhibition

My Scarves @ The Australian Craft Awards

My unique, hand dyed and printed silk rayon velvet and pashmina scarves are available for purchase. To purchase a scarf please contact - studio@artquill.com.au.Click on the image above to see my velvet ArtCloth scarves.

Welcome to Art Quill Studio

Art Quill Studio is a trademark of Art Quill & Co P/L, which is an Australian Company with no subsidiaries outside of Australia.

This blog will be dedicated to arousing world wide interest in: (a) using the medium of cloth to create a work of art; (b) promoting works on paper; (c) exploring concepts that are the basis of my current artworks; (d) offering opinions on art issues; (e) providing art resources to the public at large.